The History Of: Dave Mustaine And Megadeth

Dave Mustaine was born on September 13, 1961, in La Mesa California. He got his first records (Iron Maidon, Motorhead) from selling pot and other drugs. When he first started playing guitar, he would play along with the records on the record player and speed them up so he could go faster. His first band was a speed metal band called, Panic.
When he saw an ad in a magazine looking for a lead guitarist, Mustaine responded. That band was Metallica. Mustaine co-wrote many of the songs off Metallica's first two albums (Kill Em All, and Ride The Lightning). Such notables are The Four Horseman, Jump In The Fire, and, The Call Of Ktulu. In 1983, Mustaine was fired or quit Metallica. He and James Heitfield didn't get along all the time. Also, Mustaine was a severe alcoholic and drug addict.
Out of his hatred of his former band, Mustaine formed Megadeth. One of the very early Megadeth line-ups featured Kerry King of Slayer. In some of the first Megadeth shows, Mustaine would blame and whine about Metallica. That is a habbit he keeps up until this very day.
In 1985, Megadeth made their first album, Killing Is My Business.. And Business Is Good. The production of this album was terrible, but otherwise it was a great album. This was the first album with the bands mascot, Vic Rattlehead. The line-up was:

Dave Mustaine-lead guitar, vocals

Dave Elferson-bass

Chris Poland-lead guitar

Gar Samualson-drums
In 1986, with the same lineup, Megadeth made Peace Sells, But Who's Buying. This was an instant classic. Vic appeared on this album.
In 1988, Chris Poland and Gar Samualson were replaced by Jeff Young, lead guitar, and Chuck Behler, drums. This lineup made So Far, So Good, So What! This was a very good album but not as good as Peace Sells. Vic was also on this album.
In 1990, Mustaine replaced Young and Behler with Marty Friedman, lead guitar, and Nick Menza, drums. With this lineup, they made one of the greatest thrash albums of all time, Rust In Peace. Vic was on this album.
In 1992, with the same lineup, the band made Countdown To Extinction. This album got Megadeth the most attention they would ever have. It entered the charts at Number 2. This was the first album that Vic was not on. He would not appear until 2001.
In 1994, with the same line-up, they made Youthanasia. The album cover was banned in over 6 countries.
In 1997, the band made Cryptic Writings. This was the album that ventured very far from their roots. It had some grunge influnce in it. This was the last album with Nick Menza on the drums.
In 1999, the band, with new drummer, Jimmy Degrasso, made Risk. This was a very commercial album. It was a made for radio album. It made many fans desert Megadeth. This was the last album with Marty Friedman. He chose to go to Japan and pursue his carreer in pop music. He didn't want to do heavy music anymore.
In 2001, with new guitarist Al Pitrilli, the band made, The World Needs A Hero. This album was very heavy unlike Risk. The band also released a DVD in the same year, Rude Awakning. Vic made his comeback this year.
Later in the year, Dave Mustaine entered rehab for drug and alcohal abuse. While asleep in a chair, he injured nerves in his hand. Doctors told him that he would never play the guitar again. Mustaine then disbanded Megadeth. After almost 15 years megadeth was gone.
In 2004, after much physical theorpy from his wrist, Mustaine returned with a new Megadeth album, The System Has Failed. This was the first album without David Elferson on the bass. The people who recorded this album with Mustaine were Jimmy Sloas on bass, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, and former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland contributed solos on the record. Many people say this in not Megadeth because none of the origional members are there. Mustaine responded with, "It sounds like Megadeth, it is Megadeth." Vic was on this album.
Megadeth will tour for this album in the fall. The line-up will be:

Dave Mustaine-vocals, lead guitar

Nick Menza will return to drums

Glen Drover-lead guitar (ex-King Diomand)

James Macenough-bass (ex-Iced-Earth)
Mustaine wrote almost all of the songs for the bandand has been the band's leader for the past 20 years. He has made a film appearance in the Metallica movie, Some Kind Of Monster. He had his own signiture line of guitars from both Jackson and currently has a signiture series from ESP guitars. Marty Friedman also had a signiture from Jackson, and is currently working on a signiture serioes from Ibanez.
Over the past 20 years, Megadeth has been one of the most successful bands. They were a main band in the thrash metal movement. They have had numerous platinum and gold records. In total, they sold over 15 million albums worldwide. Thay had a Grammy nomination. Megadeth has been through hard times and made it through. Dave Mustaine and Megadeth aren't going anywhere soon.

I'm sorry, but there's something about Dave Mustaine's face. When I see it, I just want to punch it. I mean, I'm not trying to be funny here... I really hate looking at that guy. lol
Nice article, but was a little spotty at times.

The article was not bad. You missed certain things but thats alright. And no, Mustaine wouldn't have started wining again, if metallica had not put him on some kind of monster. But forget it, i don't want to start a metallica Vs megadeth debate.

in ure article u say Mustaine and James didnt get along.....its not True....it was Mustaine didnt get along to teh REST OF METALLICA.....u shoudl see teh Vh1 behind the music.it tells u everything.other thatn that.Ill read it mroe.and will be posting Correctiosn soon.....!!!.....PEAC EOUT

in ure article u say Mustaine and James didnt get along.....its not True....it was Mustaine didnt get along to teh REST OF METALLICA.....u shoudl see teh Vh1 behind the music.it tells u everything.other thatn that.Ill read it mroe.and will be posting Correctiosn soon.....!!!.....PEAC EOUT
[POSTED: 19 October 2004 - 18:23]|

Good lord.... learn to type. Please do not leave your corrections on the article.... leave corrections on your post.

nice article though it doesn't go into detail at some spots where it should, with a lil fixing up this could be a decent school report about Megadeth lol. i just got into Megadeth last year, and i have to say that band ***ing rules and the story about Dave with his hand is kinda inspirational. \m/

Tony_Iommi:
Megadeth went down like most bands....rusted away
i love them but its unfortunate they faded away, rather then burnt out, just like good old Black Sabbath.
Megadeth had their time, now its over.

No it's not, they're around, and "The System Has Failed" came out just this September, and kicks ass.
So their time is not over.

Megadeth IS truly one of the greatest bands ever. We can't say they ARE because everyone has their own opinion. There are a few problems with this history. First of all, it was certainly not his desire to leave the band. He was kicked out. It wasn't Hetfield's doing either. James apparently (according to the Megadeth video) felt sorry for Mustaine and wanted him to stay. Lars Ulrich, being the control freak that he is, saw otherwise. He knew Dave had problems and no one can stand up to Lars. No one. Their first album did NOT feature Vic on it. It was supposed to, but the original copies sported a very strange-looking clown. Lot of spelling errors too. The new CDs rock. Countdown to Extinction and Rust in Peace. Totally awesome. Oh, and Marty Friedman's solo albums kick ASS!!! Even if you don't like that type of music, you still have to give him credit for his amazing writing skills. Oh well. Megadeth rules. Hopefully thrash will come back. And 80s metal even if you prefer otherwise. Skid Row? Huh? Huh? Among others, but oh well. Time to go.

it sucks how dave mustaine is gonna go solo after all this is over...really liked megadeth's old songs..like holywars...sure hope they come to New Zealand...
this article is good..but lacks info in some places

well first of all i saw some dude say that both metallica and megadeth kicked ass, but i disagree metallica was good up until reload it was all down hill from there, st anger was a piece of crap, thats 10 dll's down the crapper..
it was a good article except for some typing errors, it was Al Pitrelli, David Ellefson,
and theres a reason why metallica have 90 million copies sold.... sell outs..... selling doesnt make a good band

st anger was a piece of crap
the reason y st anger sucks so much is cuz nothing was dubbed in like most albums. everything was done live in the studio. but i dont know y there werent any solos. i hope their next album is good.

OK, that was about the crappiest article I've read on here, you got so many things messed up, like Menza isn't drumming on the tour, it's Ellefson not Elferson, and how could you not know Metallica fired Mustaine? So unfortunate to see the worst article is on a great band.

what's your point? that megadeth are inferior because they've sold less albums?
megadeth are a lot less commercial than metallica and so are bound to have sold less albums.
i bet you're one of these people who started loving metallica when st anger came out and now think you've loved them from the beginning. if you don't like megadeth, don't post on megadeth topics.
think before you type dipshit

what's your point? that megadeth are inferior because they've sold less albums?
megadeth are a lot less commercial than metallica and so are bound to have sold less albums.
i bet you're one of these people who started loving metallica when st anger came out and now think you've loved them from the beginning. if you don't like megadeth, don't post on megadeth topics.
think before you type dipshit

i think that's what he was saying. he was saying even though metallica have sold more albums, megadeth are better. so whose the dipshit now, eh?

After nearly 20 years mustaine is still on fire and made with his new system-album one great good old metal album, I sure whant to thank him for that. I have the feeling that metallica, on the otherside, has become more a lazy band. It is no excuse that metallica had some trouble, because I think dave had ten times more trouble and still he is making technical trash metal. Dave rocks!!

I had a nightmare that I was going to a Megadeth show (I've seen them a couple times throughout the years), and I keep trying to get Dave Mustaine to autograph one of my old LP's and he is a total dick to me turning me down each time!!!...Who is more stuck up, Metallica or Megadeth. I hear that Dave Mustaine was impossible to deal with when he was in Metallica, yet Metallica likes to sue their fans for downloading Metallica's music (When Metallica first started the told teenagers like myself that the music NOT THE MONEY was what was important and you could video tape Metallica's shows without repercussions. I saw Metallica in 1985 and they had a section all set aside for people who wanted to video tape the show, now they want to throw you in jail if you download one of their songs). Ok Metallica/Megadeth experts who is more assholish - Metallica or Megadeth E-MAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW.....
Thanks

mustaine is a good guitarist and singer but as a person i think he is an ass. how can he blame metallica for firing him? he was an addict and alcoholic!! you cant play guitar while stoned, drunk, headrushing or with a hangover

You can't play guitar drunk? Isn't that all a part of Rock n' Roll? Are you clueless? Didn't James just go to rehab? Dave got ***ed!!! Metallica's next album should be called "Kill Em' All Again" and Mustaine should be on it. They owe him at least that. They need to return to their roots.

I just read all the comments(yeah i know I have no life) and thanks to you guys it cleared up my mind. Metallica became a huge pieces a shit, even though they kicked ass in the past, And Megadeth still rocks. And it's true that St.Anger is very boring. And Megatalidethica I just wanted to tell you that playing guitar rocks but it's hard And Long Live The King (Mustaine)

Stupid person, learn to spell the band is
IRON MAIDEN with a goddman E! And he did
get kicked out. Which gave him the idea to
make the greatest band ever,aka. MEGADETH.
Also this sentence is incorrect:
Mustaine wrote almost all of the songs for the bandand has been the band's leader for the past 20 years.
on acount of it makes no sense.
Good try though.
Peace.
Megadeth for life.
alex.

Yeah i know Metallica has sold more albums than Megadeth has but, when Metallica sounded fresh it was when they used most of Mustaine's material, after they realized they would have to write their own stuff they used Mustaine's stuff as a guide. Hetfield says himself in Vh1's Megadeth Behind the Music, that when Mustaine came to try out and he heard him playing it was a shrieking lead sound that he has never heard before. They obviously learned from Dave. Anyway Metallica's St. Anger sucks, Megadeth's The System Has Failed is good. They are currently recording a new album. Oh and Marty Friedman left because he was a big pop fan and, he wanted to play that because he was tired of metal and with that music he felt he wasnt able to use all of his talent. Megadeth is the best and so what if they dont have the original lineup, Mustaine is still going strong and kicking ass. He may not be ahead of Metallica comercially but hes definately ahead musicly and thats what counts.

yo guys i got the first two tickets sold to the boston megadeth show. i was right at the gate dead center 4 feet away from mustaine himself. i got to met the band afterwards and got a proffessional pic with them. it was an awesome, legendary night. i'm a veteran guitar player. nothing beats megadeth.